Thousands may be eligible for assistance program

The Franchise Tax Board is sending forms to more than 600,000 Californians who may be eligible to receive payments from the state’s Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program.

The program started July 1 and runs through Oct. 15.

Applicants must have a household income or $44,096 or less last year, be a U.S. citizen, designated alien or qualified alien when the claim is filed and either must be blind, disabled or over the age of 62 on Dec. 31, 2007.

Homeowners must have owned and lived in their home at the end of 2007. Renters must have paid at least $50 a month in rent and lived in property that was not tax-exempt.

Assistance payments range from $15 to $347 for renters and $20 to $472 for homeowners, depending on the claimant’s total income.

People who need assistance in completing the claim form can visit a volunteer assistance site, which can be found by visiting http://www.ftb.ca.gov/. Information on the program is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian and Korean and can be found on the Web site.